Chapter 89: Internship Continues: Rescue and Villains

[Third Person's PoV] 

The next day, early in the morning, Tony and Melissa were seen flying through the skies at a blinding speed, far beyond what the natural human eye could follow. 

They flew all the way from Japan to America in a matter of minutes, coming to a halt as they arrived at a U.S. military airbase, where Stars and Stripes awaited them in her hero uniform.

"Good, you two arrived quickly. As heroes, arriving at the scene on time is crucial; even a second's delay can mean lives lost," she said, nodding in appreciation of their speed.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Tony replied with a mock military salute.

Stars and Stripes ignored his playful gesture and continued, "We'll be starting right away, with no delays. Today, you both will be dealing with combat situations, apprehending villains, and ensuring the safety of the public with minimal destruction to your surroundings. I'll be following closely behind as you handle any villains you encounter.

"I'll intervene if the situation becomes too dire or if I believe you're going too far. But don't worry, I won't be smothering you or telling you what to do. I'll offer advice here and there, coaching you on what you could have done better, but otherwise, I'll leave everything up to you."

"Aren't you putting a lot of trust in us by doing this?" Melissa asked, a bit apprehensive.

Stars and Stripes nodded. "You're right, I am. But as I said, what you two really need is experience. This is also a test. Make sure not to break the trust I'm placing in you, because it'll be much harder to earn it back. Now that I've talked long enough, it's time for some action."

…

As they flew through the air, Tony took something from his forearm and handed it to Stars and Stripes. "Here," he said casually.

"What's this?" Stars and Stripes asked, pressing a button on the device, which projected a hologram showing an aerial view of them.

"You said you wanted to keep an eye on us, right? That's in case we fly too fast for you to keep up. The satellite will track us and show you what we're doing."

"Well, that's useful," she muttered.

"Melissa, I think it'll be better if we split up. That way, we can cover more ground," Tony suggested.

"I was just thinking the same thing. We can save twice as many people twice as fast," Melissa agreed.

The two of them barrel-rolled away from each other, blasting off in different directions. The hologram Stars and Stripes was projecting split into two large screens, one showing Melissa and the other showing Tony.

Now, it was Iron Man and the Iron Maiden on the move.

"Alright, Friday," Iron Man said.

"Okay, Jarvis," Iron Maiden echoed.

"Show me some action," they both said simultaneously.

"On it, boss," Friday replied as Iron Man's HUD shifted rapidly in his vision.

"The closest activity to you is a villain and hero currently engaged in an altercation. The hero is struggling, and the civilians nearby are in danger," Friday informed him.

Iron Man's nanites shifted as he blasted off. "I'm on it."

As Iron Man neared the scene, he could see the chaos unfolding below. A powerful villain was overpowering a local hero, who was struggling to keep up. Civilians were trapped in the crossfire, panicking as debris flew around them.

"Friday, assess the situation," Iron Man commanded.

"The villain appears to be an elemental manipulator, capable of controlling fire. The hero is heavily outmatched. Civilians are trapped in a burning building, and the structure is about to collapse," Friday reported swiftly.

"Got it," Iron Man replied, his suit morphing instantly. Nanites flowed from his chest and arms, forming powerful water cannons on both forearms.

Descending rapidly, Iron Man aimed his water cannons at the burning building, dousing the flames with precision. Within moments, the fire was under control, and the structure stabilized, giving the civilians inside a chance to escape. 

"Exit now!" Iron Man ordered the civilians through his external speakers. He directed his cannons at the villain next, blasting him with a high-pressure stream that threw him off balance.

As the villain recovered and unleashed a massive fireball towards Iron Man, Iron Man's suit shifted again. A protective shield formed around him, absorbing the impact effortlessly. The nanites reconfigured once more, creating a powerful sonic emitter on his left arm. With a swift motion, Iron Man fired a sonic blast that disoriented the villain, forcing him to the ground.

Before the villain could react, Iron Man's nanites formed energy cuffs that shot from his wrists, binding the villain tightly.

"Villain neutralized," Iron Man said, flying down to the trapped hero. He extended a hand, helping them up. "You good?"

The hero nodded, still catching their breath. "Thanks. I couldn't have held out much longer."

"No problem," Iron Man replied. "Get those civilians to safety."

As the hero led the civilians to safety, Iron Man's HUD flickered with a new alert. Another villain was causing havoc across town, and there were more civilians in danger.

"On to the next," Iron Man muttered, blasting off at full speed, his nanites already preparing for the next encounter.

...

"Ma'am there appears to be a distress signal coming from an underwater submarine exploration. From the signal it appears they have explored too deadly and it's caving in" Jarvis said showing her the location of the distress signal. 

"I'm on it" Iron Maiden said as her own nanites shifted. Her suit adapted instantly, her nanites flowing over her body as she sped toward the ocean. Her armor morphed into a sleek, hydrodynamic form, perfect for underwater exploration. The thrusters on her back and feet realigned, becoming powerful jet propellers, allowing her to dive into the ocean at incredible speeds.

"Jarvis, give me a visual," Iron Maiden commanded as she neared the location.

A holographic display appeared in her HUD, showing the underwater scene. The submarine was trapped deep below, surrounded by crumbling rocks and under immense pressure. The hull was starting to buckle, and the crew inside was running out of time.

"Structural integrity is failing. Estimated time to full collapse: five minutes," Jarvis informed her calmly.

"Not on my watch," Iron Maiden replied, determination lacing her voice.

She accelerated, cutting through the water like a torpedo. As she approached the submarine, her suit once again adapted, nanites forming reinforced hydraulic arms equipped with cutting lasers and high-strength grappling hooks. 

"Jarvis, calculate the best points to stabilize the structure," she ordered.

"Calculating... points marked on your HUD," Jarvis responded.

Iron Maiden quickly moved into position, the nanite arms extending to latch onto the weak points of the submarine's hull. With precision, she activated the grappling hooks, anchoring the submarine to the rocky seabed to prevent further movement.

Next, her cutting lasers came to life, slicing through the surrounding rock formations with surgical precision, creating a safe perimeter around the submarine. Debris that threatened to crush the vessel was swiftly moved aside by the hydraulic arms.

"Stabilization complete. Now for the extraction," Iron Maiden said, her voice calm yet focused.

Her suit's nanites shifted once more, creating powerful thrusters and an energy barrier around the submarine. With a surge of power, Iron Maiden began lifting the submarine, propelling it upwards toward the surface, all while maintaining the protective barrier to shield it from the immense pressure of the deep ocean.

As they ascended, the pressure began to lessen, and the submarine's hull slowly returned to normal. Within moments, they breached the surface, the submarine now safe and floating in calmer waters.

Iron Maiden hovered above the submarine, her helmet retracting to reveal her relieved expression. "Jarvis, signal the coast guard for extraction. The crew is safe."

"Signal sent, ma'am. The coast guard is en route," Jarvis confirmed.

…

As Iron Man soared through the skies, his HUD flickered with a new alert.

"Sir, there's an emergency beacon coming from an airborne commercial jet. It seems to be experiencing severe turbulence and is losing altitude rapidly. Reports indicate possible engine failure and panic on board," Friday informed him.

Tony's eyes narrowed. "Send me the coordinates. I'm on my way."

The nanites in his suit shifted, optimizing his thrusters for maximum speed. In seconds, he was a blur in the sky, streaking toward the distressed aircraft. As he approached, the scene grew clearer—the jet was plummeting fast, smoke trailing from one of its engines.

"Friday, give me a visual of the engine and interior status," Tony commanded.

A live feed appeared on his HUD, showing the damaged engine. It was sparking dangerously, on the verge of a full-blown explosion. The interior feed showed passengers in a state of chaos, oxygen masks dangling uselessly as they braced for the worst.

"No time to waste," Tony muttered, his suit's nanites already morphing. The armor on his back expanded, forming powerful stabilizer wings to better control his descent as he approached the jet. His right arm shifted into a high-intensity cooling unit, while his left arm transformed into a precision repair tool equipped with welding capabilities.

"Let's cool this thing off," Tony said as he positioned himself beside the malfunctioning engine. He activated the cooling unit, releasing a concentrated stream of cryo-fluid that enveloped the engine, rapidly bringing down its temperature and extinguishing the sparks.

With the immediate threat of explosion neutralized, Tony moved to the next step. His nanites reconfigured once more, forming a compact containment field around the damaged engine. This field acted as a temporary buffer, preventing any further mechanical failures.

"Engine's stable for now, but we're not out of the woods yet," Tony said, his mind already on the next problem—how to land the jet safely.

"Friday, connect to the jet's controls. We need to take over and guide this bird down," he instructed.

"Already on it, boss. I'm bypassing their systems now," Friday replied, taking control of the jet's navigation.

Tony positioned himself under the jet, his stabilizer wings extending further. With a surge of power, he began pushing against the jet's descent, using his own thrusters to slow it down.

"Come on, big guy, stay with me," Tony grunted as the jet's speed gradually decreased. The ground was rushing up fast, but Tony's efforts were making a difference. The jet's descent became more controlled, and the panic inside began to subside as the passengers realized they might just survive this.

"Approaching the runway," Friday reported. "Preparing for emergency landing procedures."

Tony guided the jet toward the nearest airstrip, his suit straining under the effort. As they neared the ground, he angled the jet's nose up slightly, preparing for touchdown. The wheels hit the tarmac with a heavy thud, the jet skidding along the runway before coming to a shaky stop.

Tony hovered above, watching as emergency crews rushed in to assist the passengers. He exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Friday, any injuries reported?" he asked.

"None so far, sir. It seems all passengers and crew are safe."

Tony allowed himself a small smile. "Good. Let's make sure the authorities have everything under control here, then we'll head out."

As the situation on the ground stabilized, Tony took one last look at the jet, satisfied that he had done his job. He turned and shot back into the sky, already anticipating the next challenge.

…

As Iron Maiden streaked through the sky, her HUD displayed a new alert. 

"Ma'am, there's a distress signal coming from a nearby city. Reports indicate a villain with a powerful quirk is causing widespread destruction. The situation is escalating rapidly," Jarvis reported.

"Got it. Show me the location," Melissa replied.

The coordinates flashed on her HUD. Melissa adjusted her suit's thrusters for a rapid descent and shot toward the city. She arrived to find chaos: buildings in ruins, debris scattered everywhere, and people fleeing in panic. The villain, a tall figure with an aura of intense heat surrounding him, was wreaking havoc, using his quirk to create massive fireballs and shockwaves.

Iron Maiden landed gracefully on the street, her suit adapting instantly. The nanites reconfigured her armor into a high-temperature-resistant alloy, and her suit's cooling systems activated to counteract the extreme heat.

"Jarvis, identify the villain and assess his abilities," Melissa commanded.

"Villain identified as Pyroclast. His quirk allows him to generate and manipulate intense heat and fire. He's also capable of creating shockwaves from thermal explosions," Jarvis explained. "He appears to be targeting the central part of the city."

"Understood," Melissa said, focusing on the villain. "I need a plan to neutralize him while minimizing collateral damage."

Pyroclast noticed her arrival and unleashed a series of fireballs in her direction. Iron Maiden's suit deployed an energy shield, absorbing the fireballs' impact and dispersing the heat. She countered with a series of rapid, calculated moves.

"Jarvis, let's test the limits of his quirk," Melissa said as her suit's nanites formed a series of high-velocity water cannons on her arms. She aimed them at Pyroclast, releasing a concentrated stream of high-pressure water to cool down his fiery aura.

Pyroclast roared in frustration, intensifying his attacks. He unleashed a massive thermal shockwave that shook the ground, causing buildings to tremble.

Iron Maiden's suit responded with a reinforced stabilizing field, absorbing the shockwave's impact. "Jarvis, analyze the shockwave pattern and find a way to counter it."

"Analyzing now," Jarvis replied. "Recommend deploying a counterwave emitter to neutralize the thermal shockwaves."

Melissa activated the emitter, which generated a counter-frequency that dampened the impact of Pyroclast's shockwaves. The villain, momentarily thrown off balance, was now vulnerable.

Iron Maiden seized the opportunity. Her suit's nanites formed an advanced, high-frequency energy net, designed to disrupt and contain Pyroclast's quirk. She deployed the net, which enveloped the villain, suppressing his ability to generate heat and fire.

Pyroclast struggled against the energy net, his attacks weakening as his quirk's influence diminished. Iron Maiden approached him, her suit's cooling systems working overtime to maintain a safe environment.

"It's over, Pyroclast. Surrender now, and you won't be harmed," Melissa said firmly.

Pyroclast, realizing his quirk was effectively neutralized, finally relented. The energy net tightened, securing him in place. Emergency responders and heroes on the ground moved in to take him into custody.

Melissa watched as the situation was brought under control. Her suit's nanites returned to their standard configuration, and she took a moment to check the surrounding area for any remaining threats or damage.

"Jarvis, any further issues?" she asked.

"All threats neutralized. The city is safe. Emergency services are handling the aftermath," Jarvis confirmed.

…

Iron Man soared through the city skyline, his HUD flashing with a new alert. 

"Sir, there's a situation downtown. A villain named Quakewave is causing severe structural damage with his seismic quirk. Multiple buildings are at risk of collapse, and emergency services are struggling to contain the situation," Friday reported.

"Understood," Tony replied. "Send me the location."

Coordinates appeared on his HUD, and Tony adjusted his suit's thrusters for high-speed flight. He arrived at the scene to find Quakewave—a muscular figure with seismic waves emanating from his hands—shaking the ground with powerful tremors. Buildings were crumbling, and the streets were filled with panicked civilians.

"I've got to act fast," Tony said, analyzing the situation. His nanites quickly reconfigured his suit for seismic stabilization. His suit's sensors began to counter the tremors with stabilizing thrusters designed to absorb and neutralize seismic activity.

Quakewave spotted Tony and unleashed a series of intense tremors aimed directly at him. The ground buckled beneath the force of the seismic waves, sending debris flying.

Iron Man activated his repulsors to hover above the shaking ground, using his thrusters to maintain stability. "Friday, calculate the seismic epicenter and identify any weak points in Quakewave's attack."

"Calculating," Friday replied. "The epicenter is concentrated around his hands. Disrupting his quirk's output may reduce the impact."

Tony's suit transformed, his nanites forming advanced shockwave dampeners on his arms. He aimed at Quakewave, sending out a controlled pulse of energy designed to counteract and neutralize the villain's seismic waves.

The pulse collided with Quakewave's tremors, causing a temporary disruption in his quirk's effects. Quakewave stumbled, his power momentarily destabilized.

"Let's put an end to this," Tony said, engaging his suit's targeting systems. The nanites reconfigured once more, forming a seismic nullification field around his suit.

Iron Man swooped down, using the nullification field to absorb and counter the seismic shockwaves. He charged forward, aiming his repulsors at Quakewave's hands, creating a concentrated beam of energy that disrupted his quirk's control.

"Your powers are strong, but not invincible," Tony said as he approached Quakewave, who was now struggling to maintain his footing. The villain attempted to retaliate, but his seismic waves were now erratic and weak.

Iron Man deployed a high-energy containment field, encasing Quakewave and suppressing his ability to generate further seismic activity. The containment field stabilized the area, preventing additional damage and allowing emergency services to start rescuing civilians and assessing the structural damage.

Tony hovered above the scene, ensuring Quakewave was securely contained. "Friday, check on the status of the buildings and the civilians."

"The containment field is holding. Structural damage is significant but manageable. Emergency services are on-site and conducting rescue operations," Friday reported.

Tony watched as the emergency crews moved in to secure the area and assist the injured. He allowed himself a moment of relief before preparing for his next mission.

"Alright, job well done," Tony said, turning his gaze toward the horizon. "Time to see what's next."

With that, Iron Man rocketed back into the sky, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

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